People's Democracy

IF there were any illusions that the developed nations really have any concern for the poor and hungry in the world, then the World Food Summit has banished all that. The summit held recently in Rome ended without achieving anything, delegates have said.

Officials from poor countries say it was largely a waste of time anyway, as the governments of developed countries did not take it seriously. There are mission representatives here who go on mad shopping sprees for clothes and designer goods and eat in the best restaurants, while back home, so many children are going hungry. Only the Italian and Spanish leaders were there, despite the stated goal of halving world hunger by 2015.

And there are reports that the summit ended early so that Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi could watch his country's crucial World Cup game with Mexico. The French news agency, AFP, reports that the close was brought forward by two hours. Such was the hurry to finish the conference that a spokesman for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, Nick Parsons, said that no firm time had been fixed even for the final news conference.

But then it was fixed for 0900 GMT - two and a half hours before the Italy kick-off in Japan. "We had to wait and see what time fitted with prime minister Berlusconi's schedule," he said. It must be remembered Berlusconi owns AC Milan - one of Italy's biggest football clubs and has other priorities.

An Italian law-maker added to the criticism by saying that it was just an excuse for delegates and their families to go shopping. Activists were deeply unhappy with the summit - and the reported early end to allow football fan Silvio Berlusconi watch the World Cup. "If the reports are true, it shows the low priority attached to the food summit," said Miges Baumann from Greenpeace. "But at least he [Berlusconi] is actually here, unlike many others," he said.

South Africa president Thabo Mbeki was equally scathing. "The entire leadership of western Europe and North America was here in Rome two weeks ago to discuss NATO. They all came without exception, but they don't come now. Mugabe travelled to Rome despite an EU ban. "I suppose that's because they don't think the problem of 800 million people going hungry in the world is important," he said. Up to 15 million people in southern Africa are currently at risk of starvation following the failure of their crops.

A deputy from Italy's Northern League condemned the summit but for entirely different reasons. "There are mission representatives here who, in the light of day and without the slightest respect for their citizens, go on mad shopping sprees for clothes and designer goods and eat in the best restaurants while back home so many children are going hungry," said Piergiorgio Stiffoni.

If women all over the world had the same opportunities as men, then we could get rid of world hunger. A conservative Italian daily Libero also denounced the attitude of some of those attending the meeting. "Piano bars in the smart hotels, champagne and night clubs - "La Dolce Vita" for delegates in the fight against hunger in Rome," the paper said.

Aside from all the sniping, Sweden's agriculture minister told the meeting that a key way to improve food production would be to give more land to women. "If women all over the world had the same opportunities as men, then we could get rid of world hunger," said Margareta Winberg. "Women are not only effective farmers, they are more productive farmers than men", she declared. In Africa, women do the vast majority of agricultural work but own less than a fifth of the land.